The Pittsburgh Steelers looked like a team that was bound for the Super Bowl after starting the season with an 11-game winning streak. However, they were stopped in their tracks by the Washington Football Team in Week 13 which commenced their apparent fall from grace which carried on for the remainder of the season. The Steelers ultimately ended their run with a 12-4 record highlighted by an early exit in the postseason.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger found himself in the middle of the team's struggles all throughout their campaign. His return in the 2020 NFL season certainly made the team a better squad as compared to their run last year where they were forced to shuffle three backup quarterbacks under center in light of his absence.
Despite the optimism for his return, Roethlisberger's arm just wasn't anywhere near where it used to be. In addition, the 38-year-old didn't pose any threat in his ability to run the ball down the field as he was never known to be a dual-threat playmaker, most especially at this stage of his career.
Moreover, opposing defenses already knew that they only need to contain Ben Roethlisberger in the pocket in order to prevent the entire offensive unit of the Pittsburgh Steelers from gaining any momentum in their games.
The veteran quarterback showed that he is already a shell of his former self, with injuries finally taking a toll on his body after 17 straight seasons of playing in the league. He finished the season with 3,803 passing yards on 399 completions along with 33 touchdowns in 15 games played in the regular season.
However, he failed to step up for the Steelers when it mattered the most, which eventually caused them to absorb a disappointing 48-37 loss at the hands of the Cleveland Browns in the AFC Wild Card Round. Perhaps, the Steelers' late-season collapse could've been avoided if they had a more mobile and physically-able quarterback playing under center.
Apart from his subpar production on the field, his contract is also a huge factor as to why the Steelers are better off cutting him from their roster in the coming offseason. According to CBS Sports, Roethlisberger is set to incur a whopping $41.25 million cap hit for the Pittsburgh Steelers next season, which includes a $4 million base salary along with a $15 million roster bonus.
The team is reportedly way over the cap ceiling with an excess of over $35 million, given that the league will impose a lower salary cap next season due to the financial losses incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key players such as wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, among others, are also set for free agency in the offseason. If not tweaked, Roethlisberger's lucrative contract may eventually hinder the Steelers from retaining the other pieces on their roster for next season.
Steelers general manager Kelvin Colbert was quick on his feet as he started the offseason with the signing of free agent gunslinger Dwayne Haskins. He was brought in to serve as a project or bridge QB as implied in his one-year, $850,000 contract with the Steelers.
The former starting quarterback of the Washington Football Team may not be a lock for the QB1 spot even if Ben Roethlisberger retires, but he still serves as a low-risk, high-reward type of acquisition for the team.
If the Steelers wanted more certainty in the quarterback position, they can opt to search for young talent in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. After bouncing out of the AFC Wild Card Round of the postseason, the team was left to hold the 24th pick in the first round.
At this stage of the draft, a bevy of promising playmakers in Alabama's Mac Jones, BYU's Zach Wilson, North Dakota's Trey Lance, and Florida's Kyle Trask are all expected to be available on the board.
Out of all the intriguing names, the 22-year-old Jones may be the best bet for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite appearing as a starter for only a year, Jones still made the most out of the opportunities given to him by head coach Nick Saban. He finished his junior season with total tallies of 4,500 passing yards on 311 completions and 41 touchdowns through 13 games played in 2020.
With his stellar playmaking, the Crimson Tide garnered a 13-0 finish to the 2020 college football season along with the SEC Championship. Jones was also at the forefront of his team's bid in the 2020 National Championship Game where they emerged victorious over the Ohio State Buckeyes on a 52-24 blowout win.
A legend like Roethlisberger doesn't deserve to conclude his illustrious playing career in this fashion but he is proving to be more of a liability rather than an asset for the Steelers at the moment. Even if he doesn't get to suit up in Heinz Field next season, Ben Roethlisberger certainly did more than enough to contribute to the success of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise over the years.
Follow Us
Subscribe